Opening/closing device for a container for pourable products

ABSTRACT

An opening/closing device for a container for pourable products is disclosed. The device has a perforable portion and a base combinable with the container at the perforable portion, and a cutting element having a sharp end arranged on its lower side. The base also has first and second passages located in a region of the base spaced from the upper surface of the perforable portion when the base is combined with the container and define a cavity between the lower surface of the region and the upper surface of the perforable portion. The cutting element is shaped to impede when it moves from a first position to a second position, allowing passage of the pourable product through the first passage from the container to the second passage through the cavity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a closing/opening device for a containeradapted to contain pourable products. In particular, suchclosing/opening device is adapted for the use of particularly viscousliquids, such as olive oil, or can be combined with containers ofreduced sizes (for example of a volume of less than 0.5 liters), in thiscase also containing food products such as, for example, fruit juice ormilk, whose pouring flow must however be lower than that achieved inlarger containers (for example 1 liter). It is clear that suchopening/closing device can however also be used in larger containers ofmore than 0.5 liters.

KNOWN PRIOR ART

According to the known art, there are closing/opening devices forpouring pourable products. For example, the patent WO9505996 in the nameof International Paper Company Inc. describes a closing device withthree components, i.e. comprising a collar-shaped based having a flangecombinable at a perforable portion of the container, a cutting elementadapted to perforate the perforable portion of the container at thefirst opening of the device and adapted at least to slide, or to bescrewed, inside said collar, and an upper cap that screws on the collarand whose task is to both control the displacement of the cuttingelement at the first opening of the device and to preserve the pourableproduct inside the container until the container, although open, stillhasn't been completely emptied of its content.

A similar opening/closing device is described in the patent EP1088764 inthe name of Tetra Laval Holding & Finance SA.

If positioned on the upper surface of a container, such devices allow arather copious pouring of the pourable product present inside thecontainer. However, in case of small-sized containers, the size of theseopening/closing devices is excessive, thus implying a pouring flowunnecessary for the end user. Moreover, it is also difficult to positionthem on the upper region of the container, where the perforable portionis obtained, due to the presence of at least one creasing of thecontainer. Also when decreasing the diameter of the collar and of thecap of such opening/closing devices, the flow of liquid coming out ofthe mouth of the collar would anyhow continue to be excessive withrespect to the requirements of the user. Also, there would be seriousproblems with such small-sized opening/closing devices, due to thedifficulty in opening the container, as well as in their molding. Inparticular, if of excessively reduced sizes, the cutting element wouldno longer be able to effectively break the perforable portion of thecontainer.

For the reasons mentioned above, it is clear that the opening/closingdevices of the known art would not be appropriate to be used also on themultilayered containers used for containing a pourable food producthaving viscosity greater than that of the products usually contained inthe multilayered containers mentioned above, such as, for example, fruitjuices, milk and other similar product. A high viscosity product can forexample be olive oil or similar products.

Object of the present invention is thus to make an opening/closingdevice that can also be combined with containers whose upper surfacehaving the perforable portion is of reduced sizes.

A further object of the present invention is to make an opening/closingdevice that allows a reduced and, however, controlled pouring of thepourable product contained inside the container.

Still another object of the present invention is to make anopening/closing device that can also be used on multilayered containerscontaining pourable high viscosity products such as, for example, oliveoil and the like.

Moreover, object of the present invention is to implement a method foropening/closing a multilayered container for pourable products ofreduced sizes and/or containing high viscosity fluids.

Finally, object of the present invention is to implement a method formaking an opening/closing device that solves the problems of the devicesof the known art mentioned above.

These and other objects are achieved by an opening/closing device for acontainer for pourable products having at least one perforable portion,said opening/closing device comprising a base combinable with saidcontainer at said perforable portion, at least one cutting elementprovided with a sharp end arranged on the lower side of said cuttingelement, and at least one first passage obtained in said base, said atleast one cutting element being constrained at least translatably tosaid base inside said first passage between a first position, in whichsaid cutting element is combined separably with said base, and a secondposition, in which said cutting element has reached and perforated saidperforable portion, characterized in that said base comprises at leastone second passage for pouring said pourable product contained in saidcontainer, wherein said first passage and said second passage areobtained at a region of said base spaced from the upper surface of saidperforable portion, at least when said base is combined with saidcontainer, so that to define a cavity between the lower surface of saidregion and the upper surface of said perforable portion, said cuttingelement being shaped so that to impede, at least when it has reachedsaid second position, the passage of said pourable product through saidfirst passage and to allow the outflow of said pourable product fromsaid container to said at least second passage through said cavity.

Such solution thus allows to solve the problems of the containers of theknown art. In fact, the outflow of the liquid contained inside thecontainer occurs through a second passage, different from the onethrough which the perforable portion is perforated. For such reason, itis possible to appropriately calibrate the sizes of the second passageso that to limit the flow of pourable product through such secondpassage. Also, in case of a particularly viscous pourable product, theoutflow of the product would be easily controlled, in the same way as itoccurs when using a cruet or similar product, wherein the pouring spoutis sized to avoid excessive flow rates.

According to the invention, said cutting element is provided with athird passage shaped so that, at least when said cutting element hasreached said second position, said third passage allows the fluidiccommunication between said second passage and the inside of saidcontainer through said cavity.

In particular, said cutting element is provided with a hollow tubularside surface having a base surface closed at the top, opposite the lowerside provided with said at least one sharp end, said third passage beingobtained on said tubular surface of said hollow cutting element.

Preferably, said base is substantially plate-shaped and surrounds, withits outer perimeter, the perforable portion of the container. Theportion of the base into contact with the container is also known underthe name flange.

The base comprises a first collar provided with said first passage andadapted to guide the displacement of said cutting element between saidfirst position and said second position. The base further comprises asecond collar provided with said second passage for pouring saidpourable product.

Always according to the invention, the opening/closing device comprisesa cap for the removable covering of at least said second passage; saidcap being made in one piece with said base and being constrainedintegrally with said base by a plastic hinge. In practice, by rotatingthe cap, around the hinge, with respect to the base, it is possible toopen and close the container.

Preferably, said cap comprises means for combining/separating said capwith/from said second collar of said base so that to close/open saidsecond passage.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, said cutting elementis made in one piece with said cap and is separably connected with saidcap by a plurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upper basesurface of said cutting element; said frangible bridges are broken atleast when said cap is separated for the first time from said secondcollar.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, said cutting elementis made in one piece with said cap and is separably connected to saidcap by a plurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upper basesurface of said cutting element; said frangible bridges are broken atleast when said cutting element is displaced for the first time fromsaid first position to said second position. In this embodiment, thedisplacement of the cutting element from the first to the secondposition occurs when the cap is still combined with the base.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, said cutting elementis made in one piece with said first collar and is separable from saidfirst collar by means of a plurality of frangible bridges. Saidfrangible bridges are broken at least when said cutting element isdisplaced for the first time from said first position to said secondposition. The displacement force is always exerted by the user, also inthe case of the embodiments described previously.

Moreover, the opening/closing device comprises locking means to locksaid cutting element to said first collar in said first position and insaid second position; said locking means being shaped to allow thetranslation of said cutting element only in direction of said perforableportion.

Still, said locking means comprise at least two hooking holes and atleast one protrusion that is combinable with said hooking holes; saidhooking holes being integral with said cutting element and saidprotrusion being integral with the inner surface of said first collar.Advantageously, said two hooking holes are spaced from one anotherlongitudinally with respect to said cutting element so that, when theyare combined with said protrusion, said cutting element is at said firstposition and said second position.

As an alternative, said locking means comprise at least one hooking holeand at least two protrusions combinable with said hooking hole, whereinsaid hooking hole, in the specific case of blind type, is integral withthe inner surface of said collar and said protrusions are integral withsaid cutting element.

The objects mentioned above are also achieved by means of a method foropening/closing a container for pourable products, which is providedwith an opening/closing device according to one or more of claims 1 to13, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) causing at least the translation of said cutting element        inside said first passage from said first position to said        second position;    -   b) causing, at least when said cutting element reaches said        second position, the breaking of said perforable portion;

characterized by comprising, successively to said step b), the step ofc) pouring said pourable product outside of said container through saidsecond passage, wherein said first passage and said second passage areobtained at a region of said base spaced from the upper surface of saidperforable portion, at least when said base is combined with saidcontainer, so that to define a cavity between the lower surface of saidregion and the upper surface of said perforable portion, said cuttingelement being shaped so that to impede, at least when it has reachedsaid second position during said step a), the passage of said pourableproduct through said first passage and to allow the outflow of saidpourable product from said container to said at least second passagethrough said cavity during said step c) of the method.

In particular, the method comprises, before said step a), the step of d)removably combining said cap with said second collar of said base forthe removable covering of said at least one second passage.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, wherein said cuttingelement is made in one piece with said cap and is separably connectedwith said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upperbase surface of said cutting element, the method is characterized bycomprising the step of e) causing the breaking of said frangible bridgesat least when said cap is separated for the first time from said secondcollar.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein said cuttingelement is made in one piece with said cap and is separably connectedwith said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upperbase surface of said cutting element, the method is characterized bycomprising the step of e′) causing the breaking of said frangiblebridges by means of said step a) of the method at least when said capstill has not been separated for the first time from said second collar.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, wherein said cuttingelement is made in one piece with said first collar and is separablefrom said first collar by a plurality of frangible bridges, said methodis characterized by comprising the step of e″) causing the breaking ofsaid frangible bridges at least when said cutting element is displacedfor the first time from said first position to said second positionduring said step a) of the method.

The objects are also achieved by means of a method for molding anopening/closing device according to one or more of claims 1 to 13,wherein said cutting elements, said base and said cap are molded in onepiece, wherein said cap is constrained integrally to said base by aplastic hinge. This allows to considerably simplify the production ofthe opening/closing devices of the known art since a single mold allowsto obtain the entire device.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, wherein said cuttingelement is made in one piece with said cap and is separably connectedwith said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges, the molding method ispreferably characterized in that said frangible bridges are sized to bebroken at least when said cap is separated for the first time from saidsecond collar.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein said cuttingelement is made in one piece with said cap and is separably connectedwith said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges, the molding method ispreferably characterized in that said frangible bridges are sized to bebroken at least when said cutting element is displaced for the firsttime from said first position to said second position.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, wherein said cuttingelement is made in one piece with said first collar and is separablefrom said first collar by a plurality of frangible bridges, said moldingmethod is characterized in that said frangible bridges are sized to bebroken at least when said cutting element is displaced for the firsttime from said first position to said second position.

The objects are also achieved by means of a method for molding anopening/closing device according to one or more of claims 1 to 13,wherein only said base and said cap are molded in one piece, whereinsaid cap is constrained integrally to said base by a plastic hinge.

In this case, the cutting element is molded separately and is combinedwith the first collar during the mounting steps of the opening/closingdevice.

Some particular embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed by way of example only and without limitations with respect tothe accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of the opening/closing device according tothe invention, still closed and mounted on a generic container forpourable products;

FIG. 1b is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1c is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 1a when the cap is separated from the base for the first time;

FIG. 1d is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 1a when the cutting element has reached its second position;

FIG. 1e is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 1a when the cap is combined with the base again;

FIG. 1f is a perspective view of the opening/closing device according toFIG. 1 e;

FIG. 1g is a sectional longitudinal view of the device of FIG. 1a justobtained by molding;

FIG. 1h is a perspective view of the opening/closing device of FIG. 1 g;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the opening/closing device according toa second embodiment of the invention, still closed and mounted on acontainer for pourable products;

FIG. 2b is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 2c is a perspective view of the opening/closing device of FIG. 2aafter the cutting element has reached the second position, before theopening of the cap;

FIG. 2d is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 2 c;

FIG. 2e is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 2a when the cap is separated from the base;

FIG. 2f is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing devicejust molded;

FIG. 2g is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 2 f;

FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the opening/closing device according toa second embodiment of the invention, still closed and mounted on acontainer for pourable products;

FIG. 3b is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 3c is a perspective view of the opening/closing device of FIG. 3aafter the cap was opened for the first time;

FIG. 3d is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 3 c;

FIG. 3e is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 3a when the cutting element reaches the second position;

FIG. 3f is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing deviceof FIG. 3a when the cap is combined with the base again;

FIG. 3g is a sectional longitudinal view of the opening/closing devicejust molded.

With particular reference to such figures, 1 denotes the generalopening/closing device according to the invention.

The opening/closing device 1 is applied on a container 100 (notcompletely shown herein, but known to the expert of the sector) forpourable products having a perforable portion 101. Such container 100 ismade in a known way by means of a laminated material obtained byoverlapping with one another various layers of paper, cardboard,polyethylene and/or other additional materials, appropriately shaped andfolded, generally parallelepiped-shaped, and having a perforable portion101, i.e. a portion of the laminated material devoid of the paper, orcardboard, layer at their end, and thus easily perforable by a cuttingbody to thus allow the outflow of the liquid contained in the container100.

According to the embodiment herein described in FIGS. 1a to 1h , theopening/closing device 1 comprises a base 2, preferably plate-shaped,combinable with the container 100 at the perforable portion 101, acutting element 5 provided with a sharp end 6 arranged on the lower side5 a of the cutting element 5, and a first passage 7 obtained in the base2. The cutting element 5 is translatably constrained to the base 2inside the first passage 7 between a first position P1 (see FIG. 1c ),in which the cutting element 5 is separably combined with the base 2,and a second position P2 (see FIG. 1d ), in which the cutting element 5has reached and perforated the perforable portion 101.

It should be noted that in other embodiments not shown herein, thedisplacement of the cutting element 5 with respect to the base 2 canalso be of the rotary-translatory type, whenever, for example, thecutting element 5 is screwed inside the first passage 7, without howeverdeparting from the protection scope of the present invention.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the base 2 comprises asecond passage 8 for pouring the pourable product contained in thecontainer 100. Moreover, the first passage 7 and the second passage 8are made at a region 9 of the base 2 spaced from the upper surface 101 aof the perforable portion 101 of the container 100, at least when thebase 2 is combined with the container 100, so that to define a cavity 10between the lower surface 9 a of the region 9 and the upper surface 101a of the perforable portion 101. The cutting element 5 is also shaped sothat, at least when it has reached the second position P2, to impede thepassage of the pourable product through the first passage 7 and to allowthe outflow of the pourable product from the container 100 to the secondpassage 8 through the cavity 10 (see the arrows shown in FIG. 1d ).

Moreover, the cutting element 5 is provided with a third passage 11shaped so that, at least when the cutting element 5 has reached thesecond position P2, the third passage 11 allows the fluidiccommunication between the second passage 8 and the inside of thecontainer 100 through the cavity 10.

As better shown in detail in FIGS. 1d and 1h , the cutting element 5 isprovided with a hollow tubular side surface 5 b having a base surface 5c closed at the top and arranged on the opposite side with respect tothe side 5 a on which the sharp end 6 is located. The third passage 11is made on the hollow tubular surface 5 b of the cutting element 5.Thus, in practice, such third passage 11 fluidically connects the cavity10 with the inner hollow part of the cutting element 5 which is in turnfluidically connected with the inside of the container 100. The secondpassage 8 is in turn fluidically connected with the cavity 10. Thus,when the perforable portion 101 is broken by the cutting element 5,since the pourable product cannot flow inside the first passage 7 insidewhich the cutting element 5 is arranged, after it has reached its secondposition P2, it can only cross the second passage 8. It should be notedthat the sizes of the cutting element 5 are designed to ensure the sealof the first passage 7 and to thus prevent the flow of the pourableproduct from crossing it.

According to an embodiment described herein, the base 2 comprises afirst collar 15 provided with the first passage 7 and adapted to guidethe displacement of the cutting element 5 between the first position P1and the second position P2.

Moreover, the base 2 comprises a second collar 16 provided with a secondpassage 8 for pouring the pourable product.

According to an embodiment shown herein, the device 1 comprises a cap 20for the removable covering of the second passage 8. Such cap 20 isadvantageously made in one piece with the base 2 and is integrallyconstrained to the base 20 itself by a plastic hinge 90.

Moreover, the cap 20 comprises means 21 for combining/separating the cap20 with/from the second collar 16 of the base 2 so that to close/openthe second passage 8. Such means 21 comprise a collar 21 made in onepiece with the cap 20 and adapted to be Interferingly combined with thesecond collar 16 and to thus allow the closing of the second passage 8.

According to a first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1a to 1h, the cutting element 5 is made in one piece with the cap 20 and isseparably connected with the cap 20 by a plurality of frangible bridges30 arranged at the upper base surface 5 c of the cutting element 5. Inparticular, when still connected with the cap 20, such upper basesurface 5 c forms a portion thereof, thus the upper surface 20 a of thecap 20 also comprises the upper base surface 5 b of the cutting element5. In particular, the frangible bridges 30 are broken when the cap 20 isseparated for the first time from the second collar 16. In this variantof the invention, the cutting element 5, at the opening of the cap 20,i.e. when it is separated for the first time from the second collar 16,stays connected with the first collar 15, in its first position P1. Theupper surface 20 a of the cap 20 will thus stay devoid of an areaexactly equal to the one occupied by the upper base surface 5 c of thecutting element 5 (see FIG. 1f ).

According to a second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2a to2g , like in the previous embodiment, the cutting element 5 is made inone piece with the cap 20 and is separably connected with the cap 20 bya plurality of frangible bridges 30′ arranged at the upper base surface5 c of the cutting element 5. Unlike the previous embodiment, thefrangible bridges 30′ are sized to be broken only when the cuttingelement 5 is displaced for the first time from its first position P1 tothe second position P2. This occurs without having to separate the cap20 from the second collar 16. In this embodiment, the upper base surface5 c of the cutting element 5 extends beyond the sizes of the perimeterof the hollow side surface 5 b to allow the user to have a greaterpushing surface for displacing the cutting element 5 from its firstposition P1 to its second position P2.

According to a third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3a to 3g, the cutting element 5 is made in one piece with the first collar 15and is separable from the first collar by a plurality of frangiblebridges 30″. The frangible bridges 30″ are sized to be broken at leastwhen the cutting element 5 is displaced for the first time from thefirst position P1, obtained by means of the aforesaid frangible bridges30″, to said second position P2. In such an embodiment, the cap 20 fullycovers the base 2 and must thus be rotated on the base 2 around thehinge 90 in order to be able to uncover the first collar 15 and thesecond collar 16 and to then allow the successive separation of thecutting element 5 from the first collar 15.

The opening/closing device 1 further comprises locking means 50 to lockthe cutting element 5 to the first collar 15 in the first position P1and in the second position P2. Such locking means 50 are shaped to allowthe translation of the cutting element 5 only in direction of theperforable portion 101, when the cutting element 5 is subjected to thepushing force exerted by the user on the upper base surface 5 c of thecutting element 5.

Preferably, said locking means 50 comprise two hooking holes 51, 52 anda protrusion 53 combinable with the two hooking holes 51, 52. Suchhooking holes 51, 52 are integral with the cutting element 5 and areobtained on its hollow tubular surface 5 b, while the protrusion 53 isintegral with the inner surface 15 a of the first collar 15. One of thetwo holes, in particular the hole 51 located at a lower position (withthe cutting element 5 inserted inside the first collar 15), also acts asa third passage 11. In fact, such hole 51 has longitudinal sizes, i.e.measured along the longitudinal axis of the cutting element 5, muchgreater than those of the other hole 52 since, in addition to performingthe locking function of the cutting element 5 when it is in the firstposition P1 and to impeding the translation of the cutting element 5 inthe direction opposite the one in which the perforable portion 101 islocated, it must also ensure the passage of a certain quantity ofpourable product from the cutting element 5 to the cavity 10 when thecutting element 5 is in its second position P2. As a result of thatwhich is mentioned above, the hole 51 must be facing the cavity 10 whenthe cutting element 5 is in its second position P2. The flow of thepourable product contained in the container 100 will thus cross thehollow part of the cutting element 5, will then pass through the thirdpassage 11 (orthogonally to the lying plane of the section shown inFIGS. 1d, 2e and 3e ), curving its direction by 90°, to then flow insidethe cavity 10 (substantially disc-shaped) and subsequently pass insidethe second passage 8.

The two holes 51, 52 are arranged longitudinally staggered with respectto the cutting element 5, i.e. at different heights considered indirection of the longitudinal axis T of the cutting element 5, and arelocated at the first position P1 and second position P2 for the cuttingelement 5. The shape of the protrusion 53 is so that to not allow thecutting element 5 to be able to translate in the opposite direction,i.e. in the sense of coming out of the first collar 15, once it hasexceeded the protrusion 53 and is slightly elastically deformed due justto the radial extension of the protrusion 53. In other embodiments, thetwo holes 51, 52 are in couples of two and arranged on diametricallyopposite portions of the hollow tubular surface 5 b, and the protrusions53 are two in number, also arranged in diametrically opposite positionsof the inner surface 15 a of the first collar 15. The protrusion 53 hasa ramp on its upper surface to facilitate the two holes 51, 52 to enter.

In other embodiments not shown herein, the locking means 50 comprise asingle hooking hole and two protrusions combinable with the hookinghole. Such hooking hole is integral with the first collar and isobtained on the inner surface of the first collar, and the protrusionsare integral with the outer surface of the cutting element and arearranged longitudinally with respect to the first collar, i.e. atdifferent heights considered in the direction of the longitudinal axisof the cutting element, and at the first position and second positionfor the cutting element.

Always according to the invention, a method for closing/opening acontainer 100 for pourable products, provided with an opening/closingdevice 1 according to the description specified above, in particularaccording to one or more of claims 1 to 13, is described here below.Such method comprises the steps of:

-   -   a) causing the translation of the cutting element 5 inside the        first passage 7 from the first position P1 to the second        position P2;    -   b) causing, at least when the cutting element 5 reaches the        second position P2, the breaking of the perforable portion 101;

moreover, successively to said step b), the method comprises the step ofc) pouring the pourable product outside of the container 100 through thesecond passage 8, wherein the first passage 7 and the second passage 8are obtained at a region 9 of the base 2 spaced from the upper surface101 a of the perforable portion 101 when the base 2 is combined with thecontainer 100, for example by gluing, so that to define a cavity 10between the lower surface 9 a of the region 9 of the base 2 and theupper surface 101 a of the perforable portion 101; the cutting elementis further shaped so that to impede, when it has reached the secondposition P2 during the step a), the passage of the pourable productthrough the first passage 7 and to allow the outflow of the pourableproduct from the container 100 to the second passage 8 through thecavity 10 during the step c) of the method.

Always according to the invention, the method comprises, before the stepa), the step of d) removably combining the cap 20 with the second collar16 of the base 2 for the removable covering of the second passage 8.

According to a first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1a to 1h, wherein the cutting element 5 is made in one piece with the cap 20 andis separably connected with the cap 20 by a plurality of frangiblebridges 30 arranged at the upper base surface 5 c of the cutting element5, the method also comprises the step of e) causing the breaking of suchfrangible bridges 30 when the cap 20 is separated for the first timefrom the second collar 16. Advantageously, the step d) comprises thefurther step of dl) removably locking the cutting element 5 to the firstcollar 15 in its first position P1 the first time that said cap 20 iscombined with the base 2 and so that to allow at least the translationof the cutting element 5 only in direction of the perforable portion101. In practice, when the cap 20 is combined with the second collar 15for the first time after the molding, the hooking hole 51 obtained inthe cutting element 5 is combined with the protrusion 53. Consequently,since at that point it is impossible for the cutting element 5 to comeout of the first collar 15, just due to the shape of the protrusion 53,the frangible bridges 30 break when the user rotates the cap 20 for thefirst time with respect to the base 2, thus leaving the cutting element5 in its first position P1.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 2a to2g , wherein the cutting element 5 is made in one piece with the cap 20and is separably connected with the cap 20 by a plurality of frangiblebridges 30′ arranged at the upper base surface 5 c of the cuttingelement 5, the method also comprises the step of e′) causing thebreaking of such frangible bridges 30′ by means of said step a) of themethod when the cap 20 still has not been separated from the secondcollar 16. Advantageously, the step d) comprises the further step ofdl′) removably locking the cutting element 5 to the first collar 15 inits first position P1 the first time that said cap 20 is combined withthe base 2 and so that to allow at least the translation of the cuttingelement 5 only in direction of the perforable portion 101.

According to a third embodiment of the invention (see FIGS. 3a to 3g ),wherein the cutting element 5 is made in one piece with the first collar15 and is separable from the first collar 15 by a plurality of frangiblebridges 30″, the method comprises the step of e″) causing the breakingof the frangible bridges 30″ at least when the cutting element 5 isdisplaced for the first time from the first position P1 to the secondposition P2 during the step a) of the method.

Finally, a method for making an opening/closing device 1 according toone or more of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cutting element 5, the base 2and the cap 20 are molded in one piece, wherein the cap 20 is integrallyconstrained to the base 2 by a plastic hinge 90 (see FIGS. 1g, 1h, 2f,2g and 3g ), is described here below.

It should be noted that the molding is obtained in a mold in which thecap 20 is arranged rotated by 180° with respect to the base 2, thusallowing to prevent the presence of undercuts in the mold.

According to the invention, according to a first embodiment of theinvention, wherein the cutting element 5 is made in one piece with thecap 20 and is separably connected with the cap 20 by a plurality offrangible bridges 30, the method consists in that the frangible bridges30 are sized to be broken when the cap is separated for the first timefrom the second collar 16.

Always according to the invention, according to a second embodiment ofthe invention, wherein the cutting element 5 is made in one piece withthe cap 20 and is separably connected with the cap 20 by a plurality offrangible bridges 30′, the method consists in that the frangible bridges30′ are sized to be broken at least when the cutting element 5 isdisplaced for the first time from the first position P1 to the secondposition P2.

Finally, according to a third embodiment of the invention, wherein thecutting element 5 is made in one piece with the first collar 15 and isseparable from the first collar 15 by a plurality of frangible bridges30″, the method consists in that the frangible bridges 30″ are sized tobe broken at least when the cutting element 5 is displaced for the firsttime from the first position P1 to the second position P2.

It should be noted that in other embodiments not shown herein, theopening/closing device 1 is made so that the base 2 and the cap 20 aremolded in one piece, wherein the cap 20 is integrally constrained to thebase 2 by a plastic hinge 90. In this case, the cutting element 5 ismolded separately and is combined with the first collar 15 during themounting steps of the opening/closing device 1.

1. An opening closing device for a container for pourable products,having a perforable portion, said opening/closing device comprising abase combinable with said container at said perforable portion, acutting element provided with a sharp end arranged on the lower side ofsaid cutting element, and a first passage in said base, said cuttingelement being constrained translatably to said base inside said firstpassage between a first position (P1), in which said cutting element iscombined separably with said base, and a second position (P2), in whichsaid cutting element has reached and perforated said perforable portion,wherein said base comprises a second passage for pouring a pourableproduct when contained in said container, and wherein said first passageand said second passage are in a region of said base spaced from theupper surface of said perforable portion when said base is combined withsaid container, so as to define a cavity between the lower surface ofsaid region and the upper surface of said perforable portion, saidcutting element being shaped to impede, when it has reached said secondposition (P2), the passage of said pourable product through said firstpassage and to allow the outflow of said pourable product from saidcontainer to said second passage through said cavity.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said cutting element is provided with athird passage shaped so that, when said cutting element has reached saidsecond position, said third passage allows the fluidic communicationbetween said second passage and said container through said cavity. 3.The device according to claim 2, wherein said cutting element isprovided with a hollow tubular side surface having a base surface closedat the top, said third passage being obtained on said tubular surface ofsaid cutting element.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein saidbase is substantially plate-shaped.
 5. The device according to claim 1,wherein said base comprises a first collar provided with said firstpassage and adapted to guide the displacement of said cutting elementbetween said first position and said second position.
 6. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said base comprises a second collarprovided with said second passage for pouring said pourable product. 7.The device according to claim 1, further comprising a cap for theremovable covering of said second passage, said cap being made in onepiece with said base and being constrained integrally with said base bya plastic hinge.
 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said capcomprises means for combining/separating said cap with/from said secondcollar of said base so that to close/open said second passage.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 7, wherein said cutting element is made in onepiece with said cap and is separably connected with said cap by aplurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upper base surface ofsaid cutting element, said frangible bridges being sized to be brokenwhen said cap is separated for the first time from said second collar.10. The device according to claim 7, wherein said cutting element ismade in one piece with said cap and is separably connected to said capby a plurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upper base surfaceof said cutting element, said frangible bridges being sized so that tobe broken when said cutting element is displaced for the first time fromsaid first position to said second position.
 11. The device according toclaim 7, wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with saidfirst collar and is separable from said first collar by a plurality offrangible bridges said frangible bridges being sized to be broken whensaid cutting element is displaced for the first time from said firstposition (P1) to said second position (P2).
 12. The device according toclaim 1, further comprising locking means to lock said cutting elementto said first collar in said first position (P1) and in said secondposition (P2), said locking means being shaped to allow the translationof said cutting element only in direction of said perforable portion.13. The device according to claim 12, wherein locking means comprise twohooking holes and a protrusion that is combinable with said hookingholes, said hooking holes being integral with said cutting element and aprotrusion being integral with the inner surface of said first collar,said two hooking holes being spaced from one another longitudinally withrespect to said cutting element so that, when they are combined withsaid protrusion, said cutting element is at said first position (P1) andsaid second position (P2).
 14. A method for closing/opening a containerfor pourable products, the container being provided with anopening/closing device according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: a)causing the translation of said cutting element inside said firstpassage from said first position (P1) to said second position (P2); b)causing, when said cutting element reaches said second position (P2),the breaking of said perforable portion; and c) pouring said pourableproduct outside of said container through said second passage, whereinsaid first passage and said second passage are located in a region ofsaid base spaced from the upper surface of said perforable portion whensaid base is combined with said container, so that to define a cavitybetween the lower surface of said region and the upper surface of saidperforable portion, said cutting element being shaped so that to impede,when it has reached said second position (P2) during said step a), thepassage of said pourable product through said first passage and to allowthe outflow of said pourable product from said container to said secondpassage through said cavity during said step c) of the method.
 15. Themethod according to claim 14, further comprising, before said step a),the step of d) removably combining said cap with said second collar ofsaid base for the removable covering of said second passage.
 16. Themethod according to claim 15, wherein said cutting element is made inone piece with said cap and is separably connected with said cap by aplurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upper base surface ofsaid cutting element, further comprising the step of e) causing thebreaking of said frangible bridges when said cap is separated for thefirst time from said second collar.
 17. The method according to claim15, wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with said cap andis separably connected with said cap by a plurality of frangible bridgesarranged at said upper base surface of said cutting element, furthercomprising the step of e′) causing the breaking of said frangiblebridges by said step a) of the method when said cap has not yet beenseparated for the time from said second collar.
 18. The method accordingto claim 15, wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with saidfirst collar and is separable from said first collar by a plurality offrangible bridges, further comprising the step of e″) causing thebreaking of said frangible bridges when said cutting element isdisplaced for the first time from said first position to said secondposition during said step a) of the method.
 19. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said cutting element, said base and said cap are moldedin one piece, wherein said cap is constrained integrally to said base bya plastic hinge.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein saidcutting element is made in one piece with said cap and is separablyconnected with said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges, whereinsaid frangible bridges are sized to be broken when said cap is separatedfor the first time from said second collar.
 21. The method according toclaim 19, wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with saidcap and is separably connected with said cap by a plurality of frangiblebridges, wherein said frangible bridges are sized to be broken when saidcutting element is displaced for the first time from said first positionto said second position.
 22. The method according to claim 19, whereinsaid cutting element is made in one piece with said first collar and isseparable from said first collar by a plurality of frangible bridges,wherein said frangible bridges are sized to be broken when said cuttingelement is displaced for the first time from said first position to saidsecond position.